Adapter for fluorescent lamp sockets



w. R. YOUNG 2,483,165

ADAPTER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKETS Filed Oct. 31, 1945 Sept. 27, 1949.

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I lnvntorz? William R. Young.

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Patented sq. 27.1949

ADAPTER FOlg FLUORESCENT LAltfl OCKETS Willlam R. Young, Fairfield,- Conn; assignor to General Electrlc Company, a corporation of New York Application October 31, 1945, Serial No. 625,901 2 Claims. 101. 173-328) My invention relates to an adapter for lamp sockets of the type used with tubular discharge lamps such as fluorescent lamps, the adapter cooperating with the lamp sockets to hold the lamp firmly in seated position in the sockets under all conditions.

In many fluorescent lighting fixtures now on the market the lamp sockets are fixed in position and the fluorescent lamp is mounted thereon by moving the lamp laterally into engagement with the socket contact pins. Usually the sockets are provided with grooves or slots to guide and receive the lampcontact pins and'they are spaced apart in fixed relationship a distance depending upon the length of the lamp. While under normal conditions sockets so installed provide a sure and effective mounting means for the lamp, under certain conditions there is some danger of the lamp dropping out of the sockets. This may occur when the spacing of the sockets is not fixed correctly. particularly when a short lamp is obtained due to manufacturing tolerances. Moreopenings are provided to receive the lamp con-- over, if the particular lamp fixture is weak structurally,-there is some danger of the fixture sagging causing the lamp sockets to spread apart. My invention overcomes the above-mentioned difllculties by providing an adapter for standard fluorescent lamp sockets in which the sockets are not fixed in position but are movable so that they may be maintained in engagement with the ends of the lamp to hold the lamp in position. To this end,. my adapter includes spring means which positively biases the socket into engagement with the lamp so that there is no danger of the lamp falling out of the sockets.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved lamp socket arrangement including an adapter which acts to maintain the lamp socket firmly in engagement with the ends of a tubular discharge lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp.

It is another object'of my invention to provide an adapter for fluorescent lamp sockets of the type now in commercial use which biases the lamp socket'into engagement with the lamp at all times.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view showing a tubular lamp supported between two lamp sockets, the sockets being provided with adapters constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner in which the lamp is removed from or inserted in Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a tubular discharge lamp i, such as a fluorescent lamp, mounted between sockets 2, the sockets in turn being carried by a reflecting surface 3 forming part of a lighting fixture or the like. Each socket comprises a housing of molded insulating material provided with. a base portion 4 and an extension 5. provided with a recess. Each socket is provided with two spaced contact members 6 for making an electrical connection with the contact pins of the lamp.

' Each contact member comprises an elongated strip of flexible material, such as a spring bronze.

One end of each strip is located in the recess in extension 5 immediately in back of an opening 1 formed in the front wall of the extension. The

tact pins which extend through the openings into engagement. with the contact members. The other end of the strip is bent at an angle and is screw-threaded to receive a terminal screw 8 located within the base portion 4. The conducting strip 6 is fastened in position on the housing in any suitable manner as" by a drive pin 9. The base of the housing is provided with a plurality of grooves Ill for receiving the electrical conductors to be connected to the terminal screws 8. As shown in the sectional view of Fig. 1, the recess of the extension 5 is closed by means of a cover plate ll formed of insulating material such as sheet fiber.

According to my invention the lamp socket thus far described is carried by an adapter 12 best shown in the exploded view of Fig. 3. The adapter is constructed of sheet metal. It is formed with a base portion l3 on which the socket rests. Oppositesides of the adapter are formed as clamping arms M which are so constructed as to fit over and rest on the top of the socket base 4 to form in effect a channel or guideway. The arrangement is such that the socket may slide back and forth on the base between the arms M. A spring clip l5 at the back of the adapter between the arms l4 engages the lamp socket and is used to push it into engagement with the lamp. The adapter is secured to the the sockets when my adapters are used, and Fig.

3 is an exploded view of the adapter andlamp socket.

support or lamp fixture 3 by means of a screw l6 extending through an opening I! in a tongue l8 formed in the bottom of the adapter.

When using the .adapters in a lamp operating system, the adapters are mounted on the reflecting surface 3 a distance apart depending upon the length of the lamp. The distance is determined so that the spring clips [5 at the backs of the adapters are flexed or placed under tension by the sockets 2 when the latter are inserted in the adapters and the lamp mounted in position. Once the adapters are located in position,

it is a simple matter to insert the sockets 2 in the adapters in which they are free to slide. As shown in Fig. 2. to mount a lamp it isonly necessary to insert the lamp contact pins in one socket and then move it back in the adapter so that the pins clear the edge of the other socket.

It will be apparent that with my adapter the lamp sockets are continuously spring-biased into engagement with the lamp ends so that they clamp the lamp firmly in position at all times. Any variations in lengths of the lamps due to manufacturing tolerances are automatically compensated for by a slight movement of the socket in the adapter. For the same reason, ii the structure of the lighting fixture sags, or distorts, permitting the sockets to separate, the spring action of the adapter will move the sockets the slight amount necessary to compensate for such distortion. Such would not be the case if the lamp sockets were rigidly mounted on the reflecting surface. My adapter is particularly well suited for use,in commercial installations which are subjected to considerable vibration. Under such circumstances. the spring biasing action of the adapter, is not impaired and the lamp is clamped firmly between the sockets.

The socket 2 is an example of only one of many types which may be used with my adapter. However, the particular configuration of the side arms 14 of the adapter will vary dependingupon the shape of the socket base 4. It is only necessary that the sockets slide freely within the arms of the adapter so that they may have a certain amount of movement under the action of the spring clip It. My adapter is one which may be easily manufactured of sheet metal. It may be installed in existing lighting installations simply by removing the socket and installing the adapter beneath it. It is not necessary to disturb the wiring to the socket. While each lamp socket has been illustrated as being provided with an adapter, it should be manifest that in some cases only a single adapter need be used to support the socket, the other socket being fixed to the reflector.

4 whatlclaimasnswanddesiretosecureby Letters Patent of the Unitedfitates, is:

1. An adapter for a lamp socket comprising ll.

channel member adapted to receive and support a lamp socket so as to be movable in the channel substantially only along a single axis, said channel being formed of a base plate having two opposed side edges parallel to said axis, parallel side walls extending from said edges and flanges extending inwardly and toward each other from said side walls, and a spring clip extending from an end of said channel between the side walls partially closing said end of said channel, said spring clip being self-tensioned toward the interior of said channel.

2. In combination with a lamp socket for .supporting one end of an elongated tubular lamp, said socket having a base portion with a pair of opposed parallel sides, an adapter for said socket comprising a channel member adapted to receive and support the socket so as to be movable in the channel substantially only along a single axis, said channel being formed of a base plate having two opposed side edges parallel to said axis, parallel side walls extending from said edges and spaced from each other by substantially the spacing of the sides of said socket base, and flanges extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls and adapted to fit over a part of said socket base portion, and a spring clip extending from an end of said plate between the side walls and adapted to engage the rear face of the socket to move it along the channel and thereby with the end of the lamp.

WILLIAM R. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS to bias it into engagement Number Name Date 1,956,725 Mitchell May 1, 1934 2,333,694 Warsher Nov. 9, 1943 2,368,879 Reeves .Feb. 6, 1945 2,410,997 Pesin Nov. 12, 1948 

